Melany Brigitte García Farías (27 January 1997 – 23 March 2024) was an Ecuadorian politician, nurse, and social worker who served as mayor of San Vicente from May 2023 until her assassination.[2][3] She was a member of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Party.[4]
On 23 March 2024, García was shot and killed, along with an aide.[3] At the time of her death, she was the youngest mayor in Ecuador at 27 years old.[3][5]
Biography
Melany Brigitte García Farías was born on 27 January 1997 in Canoa. She was an educated nurse.[2] At the age of 15, García worked for a health services company.[6] She ran for mayor of San Vicente, at the age of 26, in February 2023, as a member of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Party.[7] She was elected with 4,943 votes (37.48%)[8] in a field of 8 candidates,[6] taking office in May 2023.[9]
Tenure
García focused on improving the quality of drinking water, installing sewers, and boosting local tourism through beaches.[6][8][10] She also indicated that she planned to develop agriculture and the fishing industry in the region.[8]
Death
During the late evening of 23 March 2024, García was shot dead alongside her director of communications, Jairo Loor Meza, in a vehicle. She was 27 years old.[3][8] During the evening of 23 March, her family raised concerns as to her whereabouts.[11] The bodies were found on 24 March at 1 am.[10]
According to an autopsy they were killed on 23 March at around 11 pm, and according to police sources, they were shot from the backseat of a car in the neck and head.[citation needed] Jairo Loor Meza was shot first.[citation needed] They were both found to have had been shot multiple times.[citation needed]
Local media indicate that previously there had been no indications of threats and that the mayor did not have any police protection.[10] The killing followed on other violence against political figures in the area and the country.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Muli, Angie (26 March 2024). "Ecuador's youngest Mayor Brigitte Garcia shot dead". SMNI NEWS CHANNEL. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
(...), Brigitte Garcia, was found dead in San Vicente Town, (...)
- ^ a b "'El robo de agua directo de las tuberías hace perder la presión que llega a cada casa': el principal problema de San Vicente, según la alcaldesa Brigitte García". El Universo (in Spanish). 31 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Ecuador's youngest mayor found shot to death alongside advisor". Reuters. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Asesinan a joven alcaldesa en ciudad costera de Ecuador". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Buschschlüter, Vanessa (25 March 2024). "Ecuador's youngest mayor Brigitte García shot dead". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Redacción (24 March 2024). "Asesinato Brigitte García: ¿Quién fue la Alcaldesa de San Vicente?". www.ecuavisa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Loaiza, Por Yalilé (25 March 2024). "Asesinato de Brigitte García, al alcaldesa más joven de Ecuador: la policía cree que el asesino estaba en el mismo vehículo". infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Asesinan a Brigitte García, alcaldesa del cantón San Vicente, en Manabí". El Universo (in Spanish). 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Violencia en Ecuador: quién era Brigitte García, la alcaldesa más joven del país, que fue asesinada a tiros con uno de sus asesores". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 25 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "¿Quién era Brigitte García, alcaldesa de San Vicente, y lo que se sabe de su asesinato a tiros?". Msn. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Familia de Brigitte García, alcaldesa de San Vicente asesinada, había reportado su desaparición el mediodía del sábado 23 de marzo". El Universo (in Spanish). 24 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.